interjection
ahoy
uh-HOY
Ahoy (interjection) means a call used to hail a ship or attract someone's attention, especially at sea. Example: “Ahoy there!" the captain shouted across the water.”
interjection
1
A call used to hail a ship or attract someone's attention, especially at sea.
""Ahoy there!" the captain shouted across the water."
"Ahoy, is anyone on deck?"
How to use ahoy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA traditional sailor's greeting or attention-getting shout, now mostly used jokingly or in pirate speech.
When to use it
Rarely used outside nautical contexts or humor.
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Word forms
- Plural
- ahoys
- Third person singular
- ahoys
- Past tense
- ahoyed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"_____ there!" the captain shouted across the water.
Etymology
From "a-" plus the old nautical call "hoy," a shout used since medieval times to hail or greet someone.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for ahoy
See all rhymes for ahoy →Frequently asked questions
What does “ahoy” mean?
The word “ahoy” means a call used to hail a ship or attract someone's attention, especially at sea. In plain terms, a traditional sailor's greeting or attention-getting shout, now mostly used jokingly or in pirate speech.
How do you pronounce “ahoy”?
“Ahoy” is pronounced uh-HOY (/əˈhɔɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ahoy” in a sentence?
Here is “ahoy” used in a sentence: “"Ahoy there!" the captain shouted across the water.”
What is another word for “ahoy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ahoy” include yo.
What part of speech is “ahoy”?
“Ahoy” is an interjection.
